Two Ukrainians jailed in UK for trying to smuggle in 6 migrants on yacht

Kruik told border patrol that the purpose of their arrival in Britain was tourism.

/ russianseattle.us

Two Ukrainians, a former ballet dancer and a chef, have been jailed in the UK for trying to smuggle in six of their fellow nationals.

The court in Portsmouth sentenced Vladyslav Kurtoglu, 50, to six years in prison on charges of assisting unlawful immigrationn. His accomplice, Dmytro Kruik, 29, will spend three years and nine months in jail, RFE/RL's Ukrainian service reports.

The men were detained on May 20, 2017, after they were caught in a yacht at Hayling Island where they had arrived from north-west France.

Kruik told the border patrol that the purpose of their arrival in Britain was tourism.

A prosecutor told the court how there had been "significant planning and resources" invested into the botched illegal people smuggling voyage. Forged documents were also used over the authenticity of the boat and right to sail to the UK.